North Yorkshire County Council has launched a highways company to look after the area’s network of almost 5,800 miles of roads.
Although created by the council, NY Highways will operate as a private business and takes on the role after the authority’s highways contract with a private sector company ended.
The council said this will see a quiet ‘revolution’ in how everyday highways maintenance and bigger improvement schemes are delivered across the county's network, which laid end to end would reach from North Yorkshire to Tokyo.
While the county’s highways work will form NY Highways’ main workload, there will be opportunities to work for other public and private clients, providing additional income to underpin other council services.
The vast majority of staff who worked on the previous contract will transfer to NY Highways, retaining experience, knowledge and consistent services from day one.
The council said that the close relationship between the authority and NY Highways will enable the operation to be fleet of foot and to react quickly and flexibly to changes in circumstances.
Commenting, North Yorkshire County Council’s Executive Member for Access, Councillor Don Mackenzie said: “Creating this company is an innovative, forward-thinking move that gives us greater control and flexibility over our highways service delivery.
“Many members of the highways team live in North Yorkshire. They are passionate about their communities and take pride in delivering services that are used by their friends and families.
“This new company will benefit from that local pride and passion. This is local people providing services where they live.
“On day one of NY Highways, the residents of North Yorkshire should see no difference in the standard of service they receive.
“The company will ensure the continuity people would expect during the transition and will then look continually to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the service delivered to the people of North Yorkshire over the years ahead.”
NY Highways’ fleet of 170 vehicles is made up of 80 new ones, ranging from vans to tippers, gully cleaners, street lighting vehicles and gritters, plus vehicles transferring from the former contract.
NY Highways will be one of North Yorkshire’s largest employers, with a locally based workforce of more than 250 full-time and part-time staff, as well as supporting an extensive supply chain.
For every £1 spent, NY Highways aims to get 70p reinvested into the local economy by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in the county, while spending an estimated £28m during the coming year on local supplies and services.
There will be no change to how members of the public report issues on the roads and they can continue to get in touch through the council’s website and customer service centre.
